No grounding rod

pcavalcante · June 1, 2012, 2:03am

Ive seen this on several new houses. Am I missing something new. I always thought they should be attached to a grounding rod.

jjimenez · June 1, 2012, 3:05am

Yeah I saw one just going into the dirt today. I wrote it up as improper. Any comments?

Jim_Port · June 1, 2012, 4:06am

Phil, that might be a tail for the intersystem bonding for the phone and cable TV systems.

rmeier2 · June 1, 2012, 8:58am

I agree, and in the past that was an acceptable method of providing an attachment point for the bonding connection. Now under the 2008 or 2011 NEC an intersystem bonding terminal would be required. From EC&M item #13:

http://ecmweb.com/images/711ecmCSfig16.jpg

250.94 — INTERSYSTEM BONDING TERMINAL A new rule requires an intersystem bonding terminal for communications systems.
An external accessible intersystem bonding terminal for the grounding and bonding of communications systems shall be provided at service equipment and disconnecting means for buildings or structures supplied by a feeder (click here to see Fig. 16)](http://ecmweb.com/images/711ecmCSfig16.jpg).
The intersystem bonding terminal shall not interfere with the opening of any equipment enclosure and be one of the following:
[LIST=1]
       **Terminals listed for grounding and bonding attached to a meter socket enclosure.**
       **Bonding bar connected to the equipment grounding conductor with a minimum 6 AWG copper conductor.**
       **Bonding bar connected to the grounding electrode conductor with a minimum 6 AWG copper conductor.**


            **Author's comment:** *According to Art. 100, an intersystem  bonding terminal is a device that provides a means to connect  communications systems grounding and bonding conductors to the building  grounding electrode system.* 
Exception: At existing buildings or structures, an external accessible means for bonding communications systems together can be:
Nonflexible metallic raceway,

Grounding electrode conductor, or
Connection approved by the authority having jurisdiction.
            FPN No. 2: Communications systems shall be bonded to the intersystem bonding terminal in accordance with the following:
Antennas/Satellite Dishes, 810.15 and 810.21

CATV, 820.100
Telephone Circuits, 800.100
             **Author's comment:** *All external communications systems must  be bonded to the intersystem bonding terminal to minimize the damage to  communications systems from induced potential (voltage) differences  between the systems from a lightning event.* 
             *This is one of several correlated proposals to improve the  requirements related to the intersystem bonding and grounding of  communications systems. This provides a more accessible, safer means of  bonding all systems, such as power and communications, together.*
[/LIST]

http://ecmweb.com/mag/electric_code_changes_13/

pcavalcante · June 1, 2012, 7:23pm

Thanks guys the house 2 days ago was new and i noted it. yesterday the house was 2 years old check the house next to it and it was the same did not note it. wanted some input first.